A lesson in healthier eating is on the menu for Greater Manchester pupils

Published by Gary Bolton for Connaught Plc in Health and also in Education

Pupils from schools across Greater Manchester have received expert guidance in creating a tasty two-course menu as part of an initiative to encourage healthier eating amongst the young and old alike.

Primary schools from Salford, Beswick, Longsight, and Wythenshawe were invited to participate in The Connaught Healthier Eating Competition which invited pupils to design a menu consisting of a nutritionally balanced main course and dessert. The pupils were encouraged to think about ingredients, taste and nutritional value before drawing a picture of their planned dishes to be evaluated by teachers.

A pair of pupils from St Wilfreds Primary School in Wythenshawe, Seedley Primary School in Salford, St Lukes Primary School in Longsight and Church of England school of resurrection in Beswick were subsequently invited to participate in the final held at Stockport College where, with the assistance of catering students, they were required to turn their menu into reality in just two hours.

At the end of the session the budding chefs, aged from six to 11, served their culinary creations to a panel of judges consisting of local chef Lee Eccleston from Jem & I in Didsbury, Ray Green, Greater Manchester NHS community dietician team leader and Connaught area partnership director Mark Foster. After much deliberation first prize was awarded to pupils from St Wilfreds Primary School, however each pair walked away with prizes for their school after £250 of cookery equipment was shared out.

Karlie Foxhall, Connaught senior liaison officer, said: “Healthy Eating is being promoted to all young people in an attempt to teach them how to live a healthier lifestyle and to help support this Connaught decided to initiate a healthy eating competition across our partnerships in the area.

“Before preparing the meals the pupils were asked to carefully consider the ingredients and how their food would be prepared before being invited to explain to their menu to judges so it could be fully understood how a healthier approach had been considered. The response from the pupils was excellent with some really great meals produced and we are hopeful that their experience and what they have learned about healthy eating now rubs off on friends and family.”

Ray Green, Greater Manchester NHS community dietician team leader, said: “I think it’s fantastic to see children taking such an interest in fresh, healthy food.  Not only did they manage to prepare and cook a really tasty meal but they had also designed it first on paper for balance, colour and explained why it was healthy. 

“This initiative is a good example of how children can actually influence their parents around food as children will try new foods, especially if they have the opportunity to get involved in the process.  A healthy meal doesn’t have to take hours to prepare and cook but moving away from the ready made and microwave option has got to be good for the whole family.”

Connaught is working in partnership with Great Places Housing Group to deliver responsive repairs, repairs, maintenance and gas servicing works in Salford and with Parkway Green Housing Trust and Eastlands Homes to deliver Decent Homes improvements in Wythenshawe, Beswick and Longsight respectively.